mid-division, not fluent 1st, in touch 10th, blundered 12th, pushed along and tracking leaders 3 out, no extra before last. Finished 6th, placed 5th
chased leaders, went 2nd 6th, led 9th, hit next, headed 11th, led after 12th, headed 16th, weakening when mistake 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
in rear, not always fluent, hampered 1st, behind 17th, modest headway 3 out, weakened next. Finished 8th, placed 7th
led until 9th, lost place 14th, weakened next, pulled up before 16th
mid-division, blundered 11th, soon lost place, behind 17th, pulled up after
towards rear, ridden 10th, headway 4 out, no impression 2 out, stayed on flat. Finished 5th, placed 4th
mid-division, pecked 1st, mistake 11th, struggling 17th, well beaten when slow 4 out, soon pulled up
towards rear, blundered 2nd, headway 17th, went 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner last. Finished 2nd, awarded the race
mid-division, headway 4th, hampered 17th, weakened before 2 out where mistake, pulled up before last
prominent, led 11th, headed after 12th, led 16th, jumped right 17th, headed 3 out, no extra last. Finished 7th, placed 6th
fell 1st
held up in rear, mistakes 12th and 17th, well beaten before 3 out. Finished 9th, placed 8th
prominent, pushed along brielfy after 12th, not much room and lost place 17th, pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, headway 14th, close up when not fluent and stumbled 3 out, driven after 2 out, one pace in 4th when jumped right last. Finished 4th, placed 3rd
towards rear, mistake 5th, behind after 12th, tailed off next, soon pulled up
fell 1st
never far away, not fluent 10th, challenged 4 out, led 3 out, clear before last, impressive. finished 1st, disqualified and placed last, was not qualified to run in race
chased leaders, close up when jumped right 17th, no impression on winner before last, pressed for 2nd and stayed on same pace. finished 3rd, placed 2nd
STANDING OVATION bids to follow up last year's defeat of Alfie Spinner and Court By Surprise in this Listed handicap off an 11lb higher mark. He made a very promising reappearance at Cheltenham, when again getting the better of Alfie Spinner as well as Duke Of Lucca and Golden Chieftain, and shouldn't be far away. Paul Nicholls runs Just A Par and Benvolio. Both are returning from a break with the latter preferred with Sean Bowen taking off 7lb. Pantxoa won over a longer trip here last month but this is a lot more competitive. The Young Master will also do well to extend his winning run and Creevytennant faces a stiff task at the weights but Dare To Endeavour could be one to follow in the coming months and makes more appeal than Bennys Mist, Ackertac and Workbench over this trip. According To Trev ran well behind Court By Surprise at Exeter but isn't one to trust with the mortgage.
Just A Par (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Prominent, led before 2nd, not fluent and headed 8th, ridden after 12th, lost place 14th, well beaten after next, tailed off, last of 6, well behind Holywell (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f nov chs G1 (1) gd in Apr.
Pantxoa (FR) 5-1 (11-6) Keen early, led until before next, prominent, hit 12th, outpaced after 3 out, rallied before last, led flat, driven out, won at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gf in Oct beating Allthekingshorses (10-3) by nk, 9 ran.
Duke Of Lucca (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, mistake 5th (water), mistake 13th, ridden 4 out, not fluent 3 out, stayed on approaching 2 out, switched right before last, no impression flat, 5th of 13, 12l behind Roalco De Farges (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gs in Oct.
Creevytennant (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Made all, clear 2nd, edged left flat, all out, won at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Sep beating Scotch Warrior (11-2) by 2l, 7 ran.
Bennys Mist (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, close up 3 out, lost place next, weakened last, 9th of 11, 23l behind Johns Spirit (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Oct.
Benvolio (IRE) 10-11fav (11-6) Led, clear after 3rd, jumped slowly 6th and reminders, clear again after next, jumped slowly and headed 9th (3 out), chased winner, challenged 2 out, every chance last, stayed on under pressure flat, always just held, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Via Sundown (11-6) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (2) hvy in Feb.
Dare To Endeavour 3-1 (11-8) Made most, ridden after 3 out, stayed on well under pressure flat, won at Perth 2m 4f nov hcap ch (3) sft in Apr beating Bar De Ligne (11-7) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Court By Surprise (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Tracked leaders in 3rd, challenged 3 out, led 2 out, kept on well from last, won at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Oct beating According To Trev (11-10) by 4l, 10 ran.
Ackertac (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, 2nd briefly 11th, still close up 3 out, not much room and lost place before next, 8th of 11, 23l behind Johns Spirit (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Oct.
Opening Batsman (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) Prominent, led 2nd, clear before 11th until after 13th, not fluent 15th, headed before 3 out, weakened approaching next, 12th of 19, well behind Hadrian's Approach (11-0) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr.
Golden Chieftain (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Mid-division, closed 6th, mistake 15th, challenged after 3 out, 4th and one pace last, weakened final 100 yards, 6th of 13, 17l behind Roalco De Farges (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gs in Oct.
Deciding Moment (IRE) 10-3 (11-9) Held up, headway 7th, hit 11th, no impression on winner 2 out, stayed on flat, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Foundation Man (11-4) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Standing Ovation (IRE) 5-1fav (10-6) Pressed leader, not fluent 1st, pecked slightly 4 out, headed 2 out, still every chance after last, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Roalco De Farges (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gs in Oct.
Workbench (FR) 9-1 (10-6) Mid-division on inside, closed 10th, 3rd briefly last, no impression on leading pair, stayed on one pace final 150 yards, 5th of 11, 9l behind Johns Spirit (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Oct.
Ifyousayso (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Prominent, not fluent 10th, jumped slowly 5 out, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Lamb Or Cod (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 1f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr, 10 ran.
According To Trev (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway before 7 out, led 4 out, headed 2 out, kept on and always held, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Court By Surprise (11-11) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Oct.
The Young Master 9-1 (11-8) Led to 10th, remained in touch, blundered 4 out, driven to chase leader after next, soon ridden, led again last, kept on, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct beating Charingworth (11-8) by 4 1/2l, 13 ran.
Alfie Spinner (IRE) 12-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, went close up 12th, every chance 3 out, 3rd last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 13, 7l behind Roalco De Farges (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gs in Oct.